Piercing device

ABSTRACT

A piercing device for use with a jewelry bar is provided. The piercing device is removably connectable to the jewelry bar so that the jewelry bar is immediately inserted into the pierced hole created by the piercing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to body piercing. More particularly, this invention relates to a device and method for body piercing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Jewelry worn on the body through a pierced hole made through a portion of the body is known. Such jewelry, known as body jewelry, can be worn on various areas of the body including the stomach, breast, and face, as well as other areas of the wearer's body. The body jewelry typically has a bar with attachments at opposing ends of the bar, which hold the bar in place in the pierced hole. The attachments are ornaments or the like, which are removably secured to at least one end of the bar.

It is known to create the pierced hole by use of a needle. The needle is inserted through a portion of the body to create the pierced hole and is done so, typically, by pinching off that portion of the body and pushing the needle through the pinched off portion. Once the needle is removed from the pinched off portion, the bar is then inserted through the pierced hole. The bar is then held in place by attachments at opposing ends of the bar, which are secured to the bar.

This known process of piercing the body suffers from the drawback of causing trauma to the body in the area of the pierced hole upon insertion of the bar after the needle is removed. Once the needle passes through the pierced hole, the hole begins to constrict, which results in trauma upon insertion of the blunt-shaped bar. Also, the insertion of the bar is often performed at an angle different from the angle of insertion of the needle due to human error, which further results in trauma to the body in the area of the pierced hole. This process is further complicated by the use of a separate bar and needle, which requires manipulation of both the bar and needle in succession.

Accordingly, there is a need for a piercing device that facilitates the piercing of the body without the above-described drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a piercing device that facilitates creating a pierced hole for body jewelry.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a piercing device that reduces or eliminates trauma in the area of the pierced hole.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a piercing device that facilitates introduction of the body jewelry into the pierced hole.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are provided by a piercing device for a jewelry bar. The piercing device has a shaft with a first end and a second end. The first end has a sharp edge. The second end has a securing structure that removably secures the jewelry bar to the shaft of the piercing device.

In another aspect of the present invention, a body piercing system is provided that has a needle with a shaft, a first end and a second end. The first end has a sharp edge and the second end has a first securing structure. The system also has a jewelry bar with a third end that has a second securing structure. The first securing structure removably engages with the second securing structure so that the needle can be selectively secured to the jewelry bar.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of piercing a body is provided that has the steps of securing a jewelry bar to a needle or other piercing device, piercing the body with the needle to create a pierced hole, inserting the needle through the pierced hole until the jewelry bar is positioned in the pierced hole, and removing the needle from the jewelry bar.

The shaft of the piercing device can have a first outer diameter, the jewelry bar can have a second outer diameter, and the first outer diameter can be equal to the second outer diameter. The shaft can be hollow. The sharp edge can be a pair of beveled edges. The shaft can have an inner surface and the first securing structure can be a first set of threads formed along the inner surface. The second securing structure can be a second set of threads. The third end of the jewelry bar can have a neck of reduced diameter, and the second set of threads can be formed on an outer surface of the neck.

The jewelry bar can have a first attachment that is removably securable to the second set of threads. The first attachment can have a width greater than the second outer diameter of the jewelry bar. The first attachment can be a sphere having a hole with internal threads formed therein. The jewelry bar can have a second attachment and a fourth end opposite the third end. The second attachment can be removably securable to the fourth end. The second attachment can have a width greater than the second outer diameter of the jewelry bar. The fourth end can have external threads formed thereon. The second attachment can be a sphere having a hole with internal threads formed therein. The external threads of the fourth end can removably engage with the internal threads of the sphere.

Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a piercing device of the present invention with a jewelry bar secured thereto;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the piercing device of FIG. 1 with the jewelry bar secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the piercing device of FIG. 1 with the jewelry bar separated therefrom; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional plan view of the jewelry bar and attachments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown a piercing device or needle according to the present invention generally represented by reference numeral 10, and a jewelry bar 100 removeably connectable to the piercing device. The piercing device 10 includes an elongated, hollow shaft 20 defined by an outer circumferential wall 25. Shaft 20 is disposed between a first open end 30 and a second open end 40.

Shaft 20 preferably has a straight, cylindrical shape. However, other shapes, including a curved cylinder, could also be used to facilitate piercing the wearer's body. Outer wall 25 preferably has a uniform outer diameter d₁, along the length of shaft 20. The hollowed portion of shaft 20 captures the removed or cut skin, tissue and/or cartilage from the pierced hole as piercing device 10 is inserted into and through the wearer's body. While the preferred embodiment uses a hollow shaft 20, alternatively, a solid shaft could also be used.

First open end 30 of piercing device 10 has a cutting edge 35, which facilitates cutting through the wearer's body, including skin, tissue and/or cartilage, to form the pierced hole. In the exemplary embodiment, cutting edge 35 is a pair of beveled edges 36 with a sharp apex or point 37 disposed therebetween. Preferably, beveled edges 36 are formed from opposing portions of outer wall 25 at first open end 30. These beveled edges 36 are preferably tapered or slanted. Beveled edges 36 preferably transition into outer wall 25 at a gradual angle or slope.

Although the exemplary embodiment has beveled edges 36, the present disclosure contemplates that cutting edge 35 may take alternative cutting designs to produce a clean cutting-edge incision and to optimize healing. Cutting edge 35 may be formed into other angles and shapes that optimize cutting pathways through different areas of the body while avoiding a tearing effect. Advantageously, by using a razor cutting edge, the tissue undergoes minimal tearing, which can occur with the use of blunt piercing earrings or posts.

The piercing device 10 may additionally be coated with an anesthetic or anti-microbial agent, or both, or other healing agents. Although not shown, it is further contemplated that the piercing device 10 can minimize trauma even further by simultaneously rotating the piercing device while axially advancing it through the target site of tissue. The use of the pair of beveled edges 36 facilitates such a rotational piercing. Trauma is minimized to the extent a rotational shearing force is applied to increase a coring effect.

Second open end 40 has a securing structure 45, which removably engages with a corresponding securing structure 145 formed on bar 100. In the preferred embodiment, securing structure 45 is internal threads formed along the inner wall or surface of shaft 20 that threadingly engage external threads 145 formed on bar 100. Preferably, threads 45 have a thread angle between about 45° to about 75°. More preferably, threads 45 have a thread angle between about 55° to about 65°. Most preferably, threads 45 have a thread angle of about 60°. Alternative securing structures and methods can also be used for removably securing piercing device 10 with bar 100, such as, for example, providing external threads on a reduced diameter neck of shaft 20 that engage with internal threads formed in a hollow portion of bar 100 or by providing a snap fit or friction fit between the piercing device and the bar.

Bar 100 has an outer diameter d₂ Outer diameter d₁ of piercing device 10 is equal to outer diameter d₂ of bar 100 in order to form a smooth and seamless transition along the outer surface between the piercing device and the bar that is secured thereto. By using a smooth and seamless transition between the piercing device 10 and the bar 100, trauma to the area of the pierced hole is reduced or eliminated. Additionally, by having the outer diameter d₁ of the piercing device 10 equal to outer diameter d₂ of bar 100, the diameter of the pierced hole is optimized and the bar 100 is more easily held in place, as opposed to an enlarged piercing needle that needlessly cuts away an excessive amount of skin, tissue and/or cartilage.

Referring to FIG. 4, jewelry bar 100 is shown with a first attachment 200 and a second attachment 300. First and second attachments 200, 300 have a width (or outer diameter in this preferred embodiment) that is larger than the outer diameter d₂ of jewelry bar 100 in order to hold the bar in place in the pierced hole.

In the preferred embodiment, jewelry bar 100 has first and second attachments 200, 300, which are spherical decorations that are both removable from the bar. However, only first attachment 200 needs to be removable from jewelry bar 100 so that the bar can be secured to piercing device 10 and slid through the pierced hole. Also, while first and second attachments 200, 300 are spherical shapes, other shapes can also be used which hold the bar in the pierced hole. In the preferred embodiment, jewelry bar 100 is shown as a straight bar. However, alternative shapes can also be used for jewelry bar 100 including curved or circular.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, in use, bar 100 is connected or secured to second end 40 of piercing device 10. The piercing device 10 is inserted through a portion of the wearer's body to form the pierced hole. Piercing device 10 is pushed through the pierced hole until second end 40 of the piercing device is exposed and bar 100 is positioned in the pierced hole. Piercing device 10 is then removed from bar 100 and attachments 200, 300 are secured to the bar to hold it in place in the wearer's body.

By securing bar 100 to the piercing device 10 while performing the piercing procedure, trauma is reduced or eliminated because the pierced hole is not permitted to constrict and the same angle of insertion is used for both the piercing device and the bar. Also, trauma is further reduced or eliminated because of the smooth and seamless transition along the outer surface between the piercing device 10 and the bar 100 that is secured thereto.

The exemplary embodiment uses a threading engagement of piercing device 10 with bar 100. This is preferable because conventional body jewelry typically uses threads as engagement structures. However, the present disclosure contemplates the use of alternative securing structures for selectively engaging piercing device 10 and bar 100, such as, for example, tongue and groove structures.

The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A method of piercing a body comprising: securing a jewelry bar to a piercing device; piercing the body with said piercing device to create a pierced hole; inserting said piercing device through said pierced hole until said jewelry bar is positioned in said pierced hole; and removing said piercing device from said jewelry bar.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said piercing device has a first outer diameter, wherein said jewelry bar has a second outer diameter, and wherein said first outer diameter is equal to said second outer diameter.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of securing a first attachment to said jewelry bar after said jewelry bar is positioned in said pierced hole, wherein said first attachment has a first width larger than a width of said pierced hole.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of securing a second attachment to said jewelry bar after said jewelry bar is positioned in said pierced hole, wherein said second attachment has a second width larger than said width of said pierced hole.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein said shaft is hollow.
 21. The method of claim 16, wherein said piercing device has a shaft, a first end and a second end, said first end having a sharp edge, said second end having a first securing structure; and said jewelry bar has a third end with a second securing structure, wherein said first securing structure removably engages said second securing structure, wherein said shaft has a first outer diameter, said first outer diameter being a maximum outer diameter of said shaft, wherein said jewelry bar has a second outer diameter, said second outer diameter being a maximum outer diameter of said jewelry bar, and wherein said first outer diameter is equal to said second outer diameter.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said shaft is hollow at said first end.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said shaft has an inner surface, wherein said first securing structure has a first set of threads formed along said inner surface, and wherein said second securing structure has a second set of threads.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said sharp edge is a pair of beveled edges.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising a first attachment, wherein said first attachment is removably securable to said second set of threads, and wherein said first attachment has a width greater than said second outer diameter of said jewelry bar.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein said first attachment is a sphere having a hole with internal threads formed therein.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising a second attachment, wherein said jewelry bar has a fourth end opposite to said third end of said jewelry bar, wherein said second attachment is removably securable to said fourth end, and wherein said second attachment has a width greater than said second outer diameter of said jewelry bar.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said fourth end has external threads formed thereon, wherein said second attachment is a sphere having a hole with internal threads formed therein, and wherein said external threads removably engage with said internal threads.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said third end of said jewelry bar has a neck of reduced diameter, and wherein said second set of threads are formed on an outer surface of said neck. 